The newly updated multilingual app Wevat gives non-EU travellers to France a three-step paperless approach to VAT refunds for tax-free shopping.
The recently expanded app condenses traditional VAT refund document filing into a paperless, one-tap process. Wevat delivers refunds at a rate 23 percent higher than what in-store refund providers offer and is available in 50 different currencies. The app can be downloaded directly from the Apple store and at Google Play.
More information is available at https://www.wevat.com
VAT is an abbreviation for ‘Value Added Tax,’ a sales tax levied on most goods and services in France. Non-EU residents travelling throughout the country are subject to the tax but can claim a refund. With the arrival of the Wevat app, tourists can now upload and store all VAT charges on their phones where formal documents are instantly generated for submission at the close of their trip.
Founders of the Wevat app say they wanted to make tax-free shopping in Europe hassle-free and paper-free. By securing backing from several financial institution investors and partnering with key payment providers, Wevat facilitates the digital return of the VAT via credit card, bank transfer, Alipay, and WeChat pay.
A key benefit of the app is its three-step process. Users are required to fill in their trip details prior to shopping, and for each purchase they make, their invoice is uploaded into the app. Before the end of their trip, app users choose their refund preference and complete an ID verification to generate their digital tax-free form. The form is then scanned at registered departure points in France.
Users can select from 50 currencies and can expect their refund to arrive within three months.
The app’s tracking feature allows users to monitor the progress of their refund, and a customer support team is available through the app.
There are no partner store restrictions with Wevat, and no repeated scanning or paper document filing. Users are charged a single, transparent service fee, but no foreign exchange fees. Purchases amounting to over €100 are eligible for a VAT refund.
A recent Wevat user says, “The app is convenient, reliable and simple to use. I don’t have to deal with tons of paperwork to claim my VAT refund, instead everything’s combined together in on easy form. There are no hidden fees and I was refunded at spot rate.”
With this latest announcement, travellers to France, and even those shopping online at a French-registered retailer, can use the Wevat app for a simple paperless refund of the VAT.
Additional details can be found at https://www.wevat.com